Human Resources Manager, Benefits & Leave Administration

Muhlenberg College•Allentown, PA

18h

About The Position

Position Overview: The Human Resources Manager, Benefits & Leave Administration is responsible for the day-to-day management of the College’s employee benefits and leave programs, including health and welfare plans, retirement (403(b)), disability and life insurance, COBRA administration, and leave of absence processes. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President, Human Resources, this role serves as the primary employee-facing resource for benefits and leave questions, partners closely with the College’s benefits broker and benefit carriers, and ensures accurate administration, compliance, and an exceptional service experience. This position provides functional leadership through strong process ownership, vendor management, and continuous improvement, but does not supervise staff. Characteristic Responsibilities: Duties are performed with a high degree of confidentiality, accuracy, and customer service. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to: Benefits Program Administration & Employee Support Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits and leave inquiries; explain plans, eligibility, enrollment, and claim escalation processes in clear, accessible language. Administer benefits enrollments for new hires, qualifying life events, annual open enrollment, and leave-related changes; ensure timely and accurate submissions to vendors and carriers. Coordinate COBRA administration (in partnership with the College’s COBRA vendor/administrator) and manage related communications and eligibility tracking. Support employees and retirees, as applicable, with benefit plan navigation and problem resolution, including complex cases and carrier escalations. Vendor, Broker & Plan Management Manage day-to-day relationships with benefit carriers, third-party administrators, and the College’s benefits broker; track deliverables, service standards, and issue resolution. Coordinate annual open enrollment planning and execution, including timeline development, communications, system configuration support, and employee education. Partner with the benefits broker and AVP of HR on plan design discussions, utilization review, renewals, and market checks; compile recommendations and supporting analytics. Oversee billing administration and reconciliations; validate invoices against eligibility data, identify discrepancies, and coordinate corrections and credits with vendors. Leave Management, Disability & Compliance Manage employee leaves of absence in accordance with federal and state requirements (including FMLA) and College policy; provide guidance to employees and managers regarding process and expectations. Coordinate short-term disability, long-term disability, and leave-related benefits integration; track timelines and documentation requirements. Manage Worker’s Compensation claim reporting and coordination with the College’s carrier/third-party administrator; maintain documentation and support reporting needs. Support ADA-related leave and accommodation coordination in partnership with HR leadership, as appropriate; maintain documentation and ensure consistent process application. Serve as the College’s HIPAA Privacy Official for the health plan, as assigned; maintain required privacy practices and support incident response and vendor compliance obligations. HRIS, Data Integrity & Reporting Maintain data integrity within the HRIS (e.g., Workday) benefits module; execute transactions, run audits, and perform regular reconciliations for employees and dependents. Produce reports and metrics related to benefits participation, enrollment activity, leave usage, and vendor performance; support annual reporting needs (e.g., 5500 coordination, surveys, and audits). Maintain benefits documentation, procedures, and employee-facing resources (guides, FAQs, intranet content); ensure communications reflect current plans and policy requirements. Wellness, Tuition & Special Programs Coordinate the College-wide wellness program in collaboration with internal stakeholders and external vendors (e.g., screenings, challenges, education events) and support related communications. Provide operational support for tuition benefit and tuition exchange processes, as assigned, including eligibility review, tracking, and employee support. Other May perform other duties as assigned. Functional Leadership (No Direct Reports) Own and continuously improve benefits and leave administration processes; document workflows, identify risks, and implement practical solutions. Lead cross-functional coordination with Payroll, Finance, IT/HRIS, and campus partners to ensure accurate, timely benefits and leave outcomes. Set and manage annual benefits calendar deliverables (open enrollment, renewals, compliance reporting) and drive projects to completion. Model strong customer service and confidentiality; communicate proactively and resolve issues with empathy and professionalism. Operate responsibly and compliantly; maintain documentation, protect sensitive data, and escalate complex matters to HR leadership as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field
Minimum three (3) years of progressive experience administering employee benefits and/or leave programs
Demonstrated working knowledge of benefits and leave compliance requirements (e.g., FMLA, COBRA, HIPAA, ADA coordination, workers’ compensation, and disability administration).
Proficiency with HRIS/benefits systems and reporting
Strong analytical and detail orientation with the ability to reconcile vendor invoices, audit eligibility data, and maintain accurate records.
Exceptional customer service skills and the ability to explain complex programs with clarity and empathy; proven discretion with confidential information.
Strong project management and communication skills; ability to set priorities, meet deadlines, and manage multiple cycles (open enrollment, renewals, reporting).
Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive academic and professional environment where all members of our campus community are respected, valued, can succeed, and thrive.
Successful completion of satisfactory background checks required.

Nice To Haves

A Master’s degree preferred.
higher education experience preferred.
SHRM Certification (SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP) preferred.
Workday experience strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for employee benefits and leave inquiries; explain plans, eligibility, enrollment, and claim escalation processes in clear, accessible language.
Administer benefits enrollments for new hires, qualifying life events, annual open enrollment, and leave-related changes; ensure timely and accurate submissions to vendors and carriers.
Coordinate COBRA administration (in partnership with the College’s COBRA vendor/administrator) and manage related communications and eligibility tracking.
Support employees and retirees, as applicable, with benefit plan navigation and problem resolution, including complex cases and carrier escalations.
Manage day-to-day relationships with benefit carriers, third-party administrators, and the College’s benefits broker; track deliverables, service standards, and issue resolution.
Coordinate annual open enrollment planning and execution, including timeline development, communications, system configuration support, and employee education.
Partner with the benefits broker and AVP of HR on plan design discussions, utilization review, renewals, and market checks; compile recommendations and supporting analytics.
Oversee billing administration and reconciliations; validate invoices against eligibility data, identify discrepancies, and coordinate corrections and credits with vendors.
Manage employee leaves of absence in accordance with federal and state requirements (including FMLA) and College policy; provide guidance to employees and managers regarding process and expectations.
Coordinate short-term disability, long-term disability, and leave-related benefits integration; track timelines and documentation requirements.
Manage Worker’s Compensation claim reporting and coordination with the College’s carrier/third-party administrator; maintain documentation and support reporting needs.
Support ADA-related leave and accommodation coordination in partnership with HR leadership, as appropriate; maintain documentation and ensure consistent process application.
Serve as the College’s HIPAA Privacy Official for the health plan, as assigned; maintain required privacy practices and support incident response and vendor compliance obligations.
Maintain data integrity within the HRIS (e.g., Workday) benefits module; execute transactions, run audits, and perform regular reconciliations for employees and dependents.
Produce reports and metrics related to benefits participation, enrollment activity, leave usage, and vendor performance; support annual reporting needs (e.g., 5500 coordination, surveys, and audits).
Maintain benefits documentation, procedures, and employee-facing resources (guides, FAQs, intranet content); ensure communications reflect current plans and policy requirements.
Coordinate the College-wide wellness program in collaboration with internal stakeholders and external vendors (e.g., screenings, challenges, education events) and support related communications.
Provide operational support for tuition benefit and tuition exchange processes, as assigned, including eligibility review, tracking, and employee support.
Own and continuously improve benefits and leave administration processes; document workflows, identify risks, and implement practical solutions.
Lead cross-functional coordination with Payroll, Finance, IT/HRIS, and campus partners to ensure accurate, timely benefits and leave outcomes.
Set and manage annual benefits calendar deliverables (open enrollment, renewals, compliance reporting) and drive projects to completion.
Model strong customer service and confidentiality; communicate proactively and resolve issues with empathy and professionalism.
Operate responsibly and compliantly; maintain documentation, protect sensitive data, and escalate complex matters to HR leadership as needed.